Duran Duran to play Olympic gig

Duran Duran will play a concert in London's Hyde Park to mark the start of the Olympics.

The band will be representing England and play alongside other bands representing the other three UK nations.

The line up will include Snow Patrol, representing Northern Ireland, Stereophonics for Wales and Paolo Nutini, who will play for Scotland.

The concert on 27th July will coincide with the Olympics opening ceremony, which will be broadcast on big screens in the park between performances.

"Performing to so many people on the most exciting day in sport for Great Britain will be one of the highlights of the last decade for us," said Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon.

"We have been invited to represent England for this Team GB show, and we couldn't be more proud. Seeing the torch being lit on the big screens before hitting the stage in this iconic location will be a great experience… We simply can't wait."

Snow Patrol's Jonny Quinn said: "Living in London and everything, with all the excitement, it's certainly an honour to be part of it. I think it will be very special."

Tickets for the opening ceremony celebration concert show will go on sale later this week.

But the choice of Duran Duran to open such a high-profile show has not met with universal approval.

The band - formed 34 years ago and led by 53 year old Simon Le Bon - have scored just two top ten hits in the past two decades.

Novelist and broadcaster Tony Parsons was among many Twitter users who posted messages highlighting that the group's golden days were in the early 1980s.